Rotuma Women Association - STRATEGIC PLAN 2020-2022
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Rotuma Women Association ST R AT E G I C PL AN 2020-2022
Hągua ‘os mäeva se ag ne ‘os temamfua
RWA | STRATEGIC PLAN 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Message from the President of the Rotuma Women
4
Association
1. Introduction 5
2. Background 7
3. Vision and mission 8
4. Strategic objectives and areas for action 9
5. Management, monitoring and evaluation 10
Annex: Draft Workplan 11
ROTUMA WOMEN ASSOCIATION
4 RWA | STRATEGIC PLAN
Message from
Mrs. Mareta Tiuhea
President of the Rotuma
Women Association
I am honored to be given this opportunity on behalf of all the
women’s club of Rotuma which unite to form the Rotuma
Women Association since its formation in 1979.
We are all indebted to our former Leaders to name a few past
presidents, Elizabeth Inia, Hangata Susau Titofaga, and all our mothers
who supported and nurtured the association in its young days for us the
mothers and women of today to carry on the visions of our late women
leaders. Rotuma Women Association has come a long way from the
1900’s. Today we have a rest house for paying guests, 12 women clubs
and many more yet to register.
Rotuma Women Association is fortunate to have LäjeRotuma Initiative
(LRI) as one of her working partners for so many years. LRI is supporting
us through transport cost in getting women from around Rotuma for our
monthly meetings, organized workshops and trainings, activities and
many more. We operate under Council of Rotuma through the Ministry
of Women and the great support of LRI.
The year 2020 is a year of achievements regarding the ‘TAUGA’ our
traditional food basket. The TAUGA is unique to us as only Rotuman’s
weave this certain basket in the world. This skill of TAUGA weaving will
be shared through a training session with the hope that every woman is
given an opportunity to learn the weaving technique and own a TAUGA.
I would also like to acknowledge the Mothers of Rotuma for the support
throughout the years and I believe working together, we can achieve
great things.
ROTUMA WOMEN ASSOCIATION
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1. INTRODUCTION
Rotuma is a small island of 44square km
situated about 465 km to the north of the
Fiji Islands, at 30°12’S and 05°177’E. The
main island is about 14.5km long by 4.5km
wide at its widest point, with hills up to
262 m, and is surrounded by eight smaller
uninhabited islets. The main island is
divided into seven districts (Noa’tau,
Oinafa, Ituti’u, Malha’a, Juju, Pepjei and
Itumuta), subdivided into approximately
15 main villages located around the
Figure 1: Rotuma Island in the Fiji Group
Rotuman coast.
The Rotuma Island Council is responsible for the overall governance of the Island. Each of the district
chiefs sits on the Rotuma Island Council, and the District Officer, the most senior Medical Officer, and the
most senior Agricultural Officer resident on Rotuma as advisory members without any voting powers [1].
Representatives from the Rotuma Women Association and Rotuma Youth Association have been invited to
recent Council meetings [2].
The population in Rotuma is approximately1,594 (817 males and 777 females) [3]. The major commercial
crop is copra, and other agricultural produce such asdalo, breadfruit, yams, cassava, sweet potatoes and
fruits such as oranges, pineapples, watermelons, bananas and pawpaws grow abundantly. Rotuma’s offshore
resources are abundant with potentially rich stores of coastal pelagics/ tunas(yellowfin, skipjack, dogtooth
tuna, blue fin), deepwater snappers, sharks, anddeepwater shrimps [4]. Sources of income come from copra,
kava, remittances from migrant family members, small entrepreneurial family businesses, and salaried jobs
for a few employed in schools and government offices [5].
[1] Lawsof Fiji; Rotuma Act [Cap 122]; Ed.1978; http://www.paclii.org/fj/legis/consol_act_OK/ra103/
[2] Currently theinstitution of the Rotuma Island Council and development projects for Rotumafalls under the Prime Minister’s Office, with the Prime
Minister as theminister responsible for the general welfare of the Rotuman Community.
[3] FBoS Release No: 1; 2017 Population andHousing Census Release 1 Age, Sex, Geography and Economic Activity; 2018.
[4] Fisheries Division; The Fishery Resourcesof Rotuma; Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; 1983.
[5] Erasito, E et.al; Leadership Training andDialogue for Chiefs, Community Leaders and Youth in Rotuma; An Initiative ofthe Strengthening Citizen
Engagement In Fiji Initiative (SCEFI); UNDP, Suva,Fiji; 2015 & Howard, A; Reflections on Change in Rotuma, 1959-1989; inFatiaki, A. et al. Rotuma:
Hanua Pumue (Precious Land); Institute forPacific Studies, University of the South Pacific; Suva, Fiji; 1991; pp227-254.
http://www.hawaii.edu/oceanic/rotuma/os/howsel/16reflections.html
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Like any other island community the people of Rotuma face enormous social, economic and environmental
challenges. Rotuma is a geographically isolated island with adistinct range of habitats and species, high
endemism and uniqueness. Rotuma’s biodiversity and marine environment is at risk due to shifts in values
and use of natural resources accelerating the loss of Rotuman traditional knowledge and practices important
to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development [6].
Rotuma’s economy has become increasingly dependent on imported goods and services, although every
household on the island has access to both garden lands and reef resources (fish, shellfish, and edible
seaweed). Because of Rotuma’s isolation and high dependency on the irregular shipping service for imports
and exports, Rotuma has not been able to diversify and take advantage of the economic potential of exporting
surplus produce from the island.
Escalating loss of traditional knowledge, practices of food preservation and craft making by the very few
skilled artisans, who are able to make fish traps, weave finemats and cultural practices are closely linked to
island biodiversity and livelihood. This affects women as they play acritical role as resource managers at the
family and community levels and are often responsible for enriching their children’s cultural identify and
shaping their eco-attitudes through intergenerational sharing of knowledge and skills. The loss of traditional
craft making skills impacts the identity of both girl sand boys and the potential opportunity for generating
income and improving livelihoods [7].
Gender differences in representation and leadership of women on Rotuma is limited to informal decision-
making processes through women’s groups or clubs formed at the village level. However, at this level it is
sometimes difficult for women in leadership roles to identify with and prioritise the needs of other women,
resulting in disconnect and disadvantage particularly between younger and older women. Women’s groups
therefore range in effectiveness, capacity, internal governanceand leadership ability. Rotuma’s remote
location also limits opportunities for rural women’s development due to high costs and unreliable inter-
island transport.
Other challenges relate to leadership and governance issues, abandoned lands and homes and older
generation taking on the responsibilities left by youth who are drifting tour ban areas, move from
communalism to individual lifestyles, negative impacts of climate change and lack of access to quality
facilities and services such as electricity and internet. [8]
[6] Information in this section is adapted fromthe LRI proposal to Fiji Women’s Fund for the project: Strengtheningthe stewardship role of women
through creation of self-sustaining alternativelivelihoods for a resilient Rotuma.
[7] From LRI Gender Needs Assessment Report,2019
[8] Leadership Training and Dialogue forChiefs, Community Leaders and Youth in Rotuma; An Initiative of theStrengthening Citizen Engagement In
Fiji Initiative (SCEFI); UNDP, Suva, Fiji;2015, Erasito, E et.al
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2. BACKGROUND
The Rotuma Women Association was established with
the following objectives; [9]
(i) To assist as many women as possible in areas of family life.
(ii) To promote the welfare of other members of the communities in which they live.
(iii) To enhance the teaching of mothercraft, cooking and handcraft.
(iv) To identify the ways and means of improving homes and villages.
(v) To encourage women’s involvement in cash generating projects and marketing of
products.
(vi) To assist school leavers and unemployed youths through organised classes on basic
agriculture, carpentry and homecraft.
(vii) To seek to provide a complete ministry to the whole person, physically, mentally, socially
and spiritually based on the Bible teaching of the life of Christ.
(viii) To provide voluntary community services sponsored by the RWA.
(ix) To preserve our cultural identity.
Membership was open to all Rotuman women irrespective of religion, andsocial and occupational
background. Today, the Rotuma Women Association is the umbrella body for district women’s clubs and
special interest clubs in Rotuma, including the:
Noa’tau Women’s Kalvaka Women’s Hatamara Women’s Sarafu Women’s
Club Club Club (Oinafa) Club (Tuakoi)
Tieri Women’s Club Malha’a Women’s Itumuta Women’s
Juju Women’s Club
(Savlei) Club Club
Solnoho Women’s Hanisaka Women’s Women & Youths in Women Market
Club (Juju) Club (Losa) Business Club Vendors Club (Ahau)
The Rotuma Women Association Strategic Plan 2020-2022 is the result of consultation and planning of
the RWA and all women’s clubs of Rotuma, facilitated through the joint RWA and LäjeRotuma Initiative
(LRI) project, “Strengthening the stewardship role of women through creation of self-sustaining
alternative livelihoods for a resilient Rotuma”, funded by the Fiji Women’s Fund from 2019 to 2020. The
purpose of the consultation and planning was to develop a strategic plan to assist the RWA and women’s
clubs to work together to achieve specific objectives and strategies within a 3- year timeframe.
[6] Note that these are objectives in the constitution of the Rotuma Country Womens Association - the HQ was based in Suva.
ROTUMA WOMEN ASSOCIATION
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The Rotuma Women Association Strategic Plan 2020-2022 presents the unified vision,
mission and priority objectives of the Rotuma Women Association and Women’s Clubs of
Rotuma to preserve and protect the Rotuman traditional culture, language and customs,
to strengthen the membership of women’s clubs and improve the development aspirations
of women in Rotuma.
VISION MISSION
- -
HĄGUA ‘OS MÄEVA SE AG NE ‘OS
TEMAMFUA
• To see the preservation of our Rotuman • To uphold the values and respect of
3. VISION AND MISSION
heritage shown by our speech and the our traditions, culture, customs and
work of our hands! language through learning and teaching
traditional Rotuman protocol, culture,
• For every Rotuman person to know and and written and spoken Rotuman
protect our culture, traditional values, language!
the Rotuman language and ways of
speaking, and to promote the learning • To promote togetherness, unity, love,
and sharing of knowledge of our hard work and perseverance for a
traditional handicrafts! better Rotuma!
• For all of us to be proud of our cultural • To mobilise all women in Rotuma to
heritage, to work hard and work join the women’s clubs and the Rotuma
together to share the knowledge so that Women Association!
it is not forgotten!
Groups Feedback from RWA Strategic Planning Workshop, Rotuma, October 2019
ROTUMA WOMEN ASSOCIATIONRWA | STRATEGIC PLAN 9
4. Strategic objectives and areas for action
The Rotuma Women Association Strategic Plan 2020-2022 presents the unified vision, mission and priority
objectives of the Rotuma Women Association and women clubs of Rotuma to preserve and protect the Rotuman
traditional culture, language and customs, to strengthen the membership of women’s clubs and improve the
development aspirations of women in Rotuma.
01 Strengthening governance and leadership
• Outcome 1.1 - Rotuma Women Association constitution is updated by December 2020 and formalised by December 2021
• Outcome 1.2 - Rotuma Women Association operational guidelines manual is developed and endorsed by December 2020
• Outcome 1.3 - At least one training workshop on governance and leadership for members of women’s clubs is conducted
annually, including topics such as spiritual leadership, time management, developing a workplan and other skills
02 Preserving traditional culture, language, customs and craft
• Outcome 2.1 - Knowledge and skills sharing sessions on language, stories, customs, dress, food preparation, maintaining
pandanus plants and growing food crops, and on traditional and contemporary crafts is conducted between the women’s
clubs every quarter
• Outcome 2.2 - One RWA resource book is developed and published to showcase one area of the work of women’s clubs by
2021
• Outcome 2.3 - At least one market day to showcase the achievements of women’s clubs is organised by the RWA annually
• Outcome 2.4 - An exhibition space where women’s crafts can be put on display is established and managed by the RWA by
December 2020
03 Increasing and improving membership of women’s clubs
• Outcome 3.1 - Special topic sessions for all women in the community organised by women’s clubs every second month
beginning in mid- 2020
• Outcome 3.2 - Club classes for all women in the community on food preparation, sewing and other skills is organised by
each women’s club every quarter beginning in 2021
• Outcome 3.3 - Brochures on the RWA and individual women’s clubs are developed by and published by the RWA by
December 2020
04 Diversifying activities and programmes
• Outcome 4.1 - Project proposal to provide an extractor and training for processing dilo and other oils is developed by 2020
and submitted for funding by 2021
• Outcome 4.2 - At least one training workshop on new topics such as small business training, various uses of the coconut
tree, sustainable agriculture and food preservation, clothes design and other topics is organised by the RWA and women’s
clubs annually
• Outcome 4.3 - At least two new projects are developed by RWA and women’s clubs by 2022
ROTUMA WOMEN ASSOCIATION10
5. Management, monitoring and
evaluation
The Rotuma Women Association and individual women’s clubs who are members of the RWA are implementers
of the Rotuma Women Association Development Strategy 2020-2022, and responsible for the management,
monitoring and evaluation of the strategy.
The LäjeRotuma will be a major partner and will provide assistance to the RWA where possible to mobilise technical
expertise and resources to support the implementation of the strategy.
A draft workplan is annexed and will be reviewed on a quarterly basis at RWA meetings and adjusted accordingly.
ROTUMA WOMEN ASSOCIATIONRWA | STRATEGIC PLAN 11
Annex Rotuma Women Development Strategy 2020-2022: Draft Workplan
Outcomes Indicators of Achievement Timeframe Responsibility Resources
Objective 1: Strengthening governance and leadership
Outcome 1.1 - Rotuma Women (i) Draft RWA constitution June 2020- RWA Technical support
Association constitution is (ii) Endorsed and signed RWA Dec 2021 Committee from LRI for
updated by December 2020 and constitution consultant lawyer
formalised by December 2021 (iii) Submission of RWA constitution to draft and finalise
to Ministry RWA constitution
Outcome 1.2 - Rotuma Women (i) Draft RWA operational guidelines June 2020- RWA Technical support
Association operational manual Dec 2020 Committee from LRI for
guidelines manual is developed (ii) Endorsed RWA operational consultant
and endorsed by December guidelines manual facilitator draft
2020 and finalise RWA
operational
guidelines and
templates
Outcome 1.3 - At least (i) Three workshops completed (one Jan 2020- Dec RWA Technical support
one training workshop on per year) 2022 Committee from LRI to fund
governance and leadership (ii) Three workshop reports one leadership
for members of women’s (iii) Number of women trained in each training workshop
clubs is conducted annually, workshop
including topics such as spiritual
leadership, time management,
developing a workplan and
other skills
Objective 2: Preserving traditional culture, language, customs and craft
Outcome 2.1 - Knowledge (i) Twelve knowledge and skills sharing Jan 2020- Dec Women’s Technical support
and skills sharing sessions on sessions completed and documented 2022 Clubs from LRI to fund
language, stories, customs, (four per year) two knowledge
dress, food preparation, (ii) Number of women participating in and skills sharing
maintaining pandanus plants each session sessions in 2020
and growing food crops, and on
traditional and contemporary
crafts is conducted between the
women’s clubs every quarter
Outcome 2.2 - Rotuma Women (i) Draft RWA operational guidelines June 2020- RWA Technical support
Association operational manual Dec 2021 Committee from LRI to assist
guidelines manual is developed (ii) Endorsed RWA operational & Women’s RWA and women’s
and endorsed by December guidelines manual Clubs clubs develop
2020 and publish one
resource book
Outcome 2.3 - At least (i) Three workshops completed (one June 2020- RWA Technical support
one training workshop on per year) Dec 2022 Committee from LRI to fund
governance and leadership (ii) Three workshop reports & Women’s one market day in
for members of women’s (iii) Number of women trained in each Clubs 2020
clubs is conducted annually, workshop
including topics such as spiritual
leadership, time management,
developing a workplan and
other skills
Outcome 2.4 - An exhibition (i) Exhibition space set up and Jan 2020- Dec RWA
space where women’s crafts can launched 2020 Committee
be put on display is established (ii) Management guidelines and roster & Women’s
and managed by the RWA by for the exhibition space developed Clubs
December 2020
ROTUMA WOMEN ASSOCIATION12 RWA | STRATEGIC PLAN
Outcomes Indicators of Achievement Timeframe Responsibility Resources
Objective 3: Increasing and improving membership of women’s clubs
Outcome 3.1 - Special topic (i) At least 18 special topic sessions June 2020- Women’s Technical support
sessions for all women in completed per women’s club by Dec Dec 2022 Clubs from LRI to fund
the community organised by 2022 six special topic
women’s clubs every second (ii) Number of women and non- sessions in 2020
month beginning in mid- 2020 members attending each session
Outcome 3.2 - Club classes for (i) At least 8 club classes completed Jan 2021- Dec Women’s Technical support
all women in the community on per women’s club by 2022 2022 Clubs from LRI to fund
food preparation, sewing and (ii) Number of women and non- two club classes in
other skills is organised by each members attending each club 2020
women’s club every quarter
beginning in 2021
Outcome 3.3 - Brochures (i) One brochure published Jan 2020- Dec RWA Technical support
on the RWA and individual (ii) Twelve profiles for women’s clubs 2020 Committee from LRI to assist
women’s clubs are developed by completed & Women’s RWA and women’s
and published by the RWA by Clubs clubs draft one
December 2020 RWA brochure and
twelve club profiles
in 2020
Objective 4: Diversifying activities and programmes
Outcome 4.1 - Project proposal (i) Twelve knowledge and skills sharing Jan 2020- Dec RWA Technical support
to provide an extractor and sessions completed and documented 2021 Committee from LRI to assist
training for processing dilo and (four per year) & Women’s RWA and women’s
other oils is developed by 2020 (ii) Number of women participating in Clubs clubs to develop
and submitted for funding by each session one project concept
2021 note and full project
proposal
Outcome 4.2 - At least one (i) Three workshops completed (one Jan 2020- Dec RWA
training workshop on new topics per year) 2022 Committee
such as small business training, (ii) Three workshop reports & Women’s
various uses of the coconut tree, (iii) Number of women trained in each Clubs
sustainable agriculture and food workshop
preservation, clothes design
and other topics is organised
by the RWA and women’s clubs
annually
Outcome 4.3 - At least (i) Two concept notes developed Jan 2021- Dec RWA Technical support
one training workshop on (iii) Full project proposals submitted 2022 Committee from LRI to assist
governance and leadership & Women’s RWA and women’s
for members of women’s Clubs clubs to develop
clubs is conducted annually, two project concept
including topics such as spiritual notes and two full
leadership, time management, project proposals
developing a workplan and
other skills
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